Major American company visits Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Major U.S. company is visiting Baghdad to discuss possible projects in Iraq, the media coordinator of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad said on Monday. “The company will hold a press conference in the embassy on Tuesday (Oct. 5) to explain its goals and the projects it plans to implement in Iraq,” Saher al-Taweel told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The conference will see the participation of senior Iraqi and U.S. officials, including Deputy Premier Nouri Shawis and U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey,” he added. The CNN had said early this month that the U.S. Department of Commerce is leading a trade mission to Iraq in October, the first such effort since the end of the U.S. combat mission there. “Representatives from 15 American companies, including General Electric and Boeing Corp., are part of the delegation. The businesses generally provide infrastructure-related services such as cargo transport, helicopters and construction,” CNN reported. Only one energy company, Wamar Engineering, is a part of the delegation, though a Commerce Department official said many U.S.-based oil companies interested in business in Iraq already have a presence there. SH (P) 1